Animated accessory for model railroads and the like



Dec. 26, 1961 H. M. HERMAN 3,014,310 ANIMATED ACCESSORY FOR MODEL RAILROADS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE TOR.

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ANIMATED ACCESSORY FOR MODEL RAILROADS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite States Patent 3,014,310 ANIMATED ACCESSORY FOR MODEL RAIL- ROADS AND THE LIKE Harold M. Herman, 6604 N. Whipple St., Chicago 45, Ill. Filed Aug. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 834,755 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-241) The present invention relates to realistically animated accessories for model railroad layouts and the like, and in particular, to an animated figure representative of a trainman that is automatically caused to move onto and ofi of a model railroad car at the control of the operator. The present invention particularly comprises an improvement over my Patent No. 2,677,214.

In my said patent, I have disclosed means for causing a figure representative of a trainman, such as a brakeman, to move from a stationary platform onto the side of one of the train cars and to return to the platform from the car under the control of the operator. The device comprises a toy figure comprised of iron or other magnetic material, a stationary platform on which the figure normally stands, a model railroad car onto which the figure is adapted to move, an eleetro-magnet on each of said car and said platform selectively energizable to cause the figure to move from one to the other, a permanent magnet on each of said car and said platform for holding the figure to the one thereof to which the figure was last moved, auxiliary commutator and energizable track means for accommodating energization of the car carried electro-magnet, and double throw or duplicate switch means for selectively energizing the electro-magnets. The apparatus as thus constituted affords a realistic animated accessory in the form of a brakeman that automatically jumps onto and ofi of the railroad car, even while the car is in motion.

However, the apparatus suffers certain disadvmtages, especially in terms of cost. The electro-magnets are rela tively high priced, and the need for an electro-magnet and a permanent magnet in the car necessitated as a practical matter, inclusion in the accessory kit of a specially built car and a specially constructed section of track. Also, the accessory was complicated by the number of parts involved, a relatively expensive switch and a relatively complex installation procedure. Due to substantial alignment of the magnet means when the car was adjacent the platform, each electro-magnet had to be quite powerful in order to draw the figure from the holding magnet since the electro-magnetic field had to buck or oppose the field of the permanent magnet.

The object of the present invention is to greatly simplify the toy above described, thereby to reduce the cost thereof, and at the same time to render the toy substantially foolproof in operation.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved animated toy figure performing in the manner above described, and caused to so perform by highly simplified and considerably more economical means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved animated accessory of the character described consisting essentially of just three magnetic components, one on the car, one on the platform and one comprising the toy figure, the latter being selectively attractable to the other two, and just one operating means associated with the platform carried component for controlling its magnetic influence on the figure for increasing and decreasing its influence to values greater and less than the magnetic influence of the car carried component on the figure, thereby to accommodate selective magnetic attraction of the figure to the car carried component and the platform carried component.

A particularly important object of the invention is the provision of an improved animated accessory as above described wherein the directional influences of the magnetic fields between the car carried component and the figure and between the platform carried component and the figure are angularly related so that neither opposes the other, thereby to facilitate performance of the intended functions with relatively small and economical components.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved animated accessory wherein the toy figure embodies therein a pair of magnetic portions cooperable respectively with the car and the platform carried components, the mass and area of said portions and the car and platform carried components and the strength of the magnetized ones thereof being respectively variable to facilitate foolproof operation of the toy.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved animated accessory of the character defined consisting essentially of three magnetic components, as aforesaid, wherein said components comprise a permanent magnet on the car for producing a magnetic field at one side thereof, a magnet adjacent the one side of the car that may be either a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet and a toy figure having permeable portions selectively 'attractable to said magnets, and means for controlling the magnetic influence of the second-named magnet on the figure for increasing and decreasing its influence to values greater and less than the magnetic influence of the firstnamed or permanent magnet on the figure, thereby to accommodate selective attraction of the figure to the magnets.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a. simplified accessory as defined whereby the one permanent magnet may easily be mounted on any standard model railroad car thereby to eliminate the necessity for provision of a special car or special tracks as parts of the accessory kit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using the improved animated accessory of my invention, I shall described, in connection with the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the accessory and preferred manners of making and using the same.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a section of model railroad track, a model railroad car with which the operating means of the invention is associated, and the toy figure and figure supporting platform as provided according to a first embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the appartus depicted in FIGURE 1, the toy figure being shown in solid lines on the platform and in dotted lines in its alternative position on the car;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car showing the car carried component of the invention and the toy figure as carried thereby;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end view of the toy figure and its supporting platform, the view depicting the two permeable portions associated with the toy figure and showing by dotted lines the cooperation of the same with the magnet carried by the car; 1

FiGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section of a modified figure supporting platform;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 2 of a second embodiment of the invention, portions of the car being broken away to facilitate illustration of auxiliary safety switch means included in this embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation, similar to FIGURE 1, of the apparatus depicted in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a circuitdiagram of modified auxiliary safety switch means for embodiments of the invention such as that depicted in FIGURE 6, wherein the platform carried magnet comprises an electro-magnet;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the railroad car and a further modification of the figure supporting platform, the end closure of the platform being removed to illustrate the means for controlling the magnetic influence on the figure of the enclosed magnet, the said means being shown in operated position in solid lines and in its normal position in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the animated accessory of my invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with model railroads including, as i conventional, model train cars, one of which is indicated at 12, operable over a track 10. The car 12, as illustrated, is preferably a caboose, although any style of car may be used in conjunction with the invention.

My improved animated accessory consists essentially of a first magnetic component 14 carried by the car 12 adjacent one side thereof, a second magnetic component 16 embodied within or itself comprising-a platform 18 located adjacent the track 10 at the said one side of the car 12, a third magnetic component 20 comprising a toy figure representative of a trainman, for example, a brakeman, and means 22 for controlling the magnetic influence of the said second component 16 on the said third component 29.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2, the first component 14 comprises a permanent magnet, the second component 16 also comprises a permanent magnet, the third component 2% comprises a plastic figure having a pair of permeable portions 24 and 26 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) imbedded therein or carried thereby, and the said control means 22 comprises a permeable strap cooperable with the permanent magnet 16 forshunting the major portion thereof. The magnet 14 may suitably comprise a fiat piece of metal adapted to be glued or otherwise secured to one side of the car 12, preferably adjacent one end thereof. Alternatively, a bar or rod-like permanent magnet may be employed, the same being installed in a bore drilled through the wall of the car. The magnet 16 may be of any, suitable shape and is installed within or comprises the platform 18, which is of a height to have its upper end approximately level with the lower edge of the body of the car 12. The platform may include a rectangular footing 28 which, when abutted at its forward edge against the track, spaces the platform an appropriate distance from the track for proper operation of the accessory. The permeable portion 26 of the toy figure 20 preferably comprises a base for supporting the figure in an upright position. This base is intended for cooperation with the magnet 16, whereby the magnet 16 will act to hold the figure in an upright position on the upper end of the platform. In this position, the body of the figure is parallel to the path of movement of the car 12 and-magnet 14 past the platform. The permeable portion 24 of the figure is preferably upright and imbedded Within the body of the figure thereby to be disposed for cooperation with the magnet 14 when the car passes by or is stopped opposite the platform. Preferably, the upright permeable portion 24 is afiixed to the base 26 so as to form a core about which and on top of which the plastic body of the figure may be molded.

The relative strength of the two magnets 14 and 16 and the relative mass, area and/ or permeability of the portions 24 and 26 is such that there is significantly greater magnetic attraction between the base 26 and the second magnet 16 than there is between the upright slug 24 and the first magnet 14. Consequently, the figure is normally retained on top of the platform 18. However, the magnet 16 is equipped with a shunt 22, the purpose of which is to shunt such portion of the magnet 16'as will reduce its magnetic attraction for the figure-20 to a value less-than the magnetic attraction between the figure and the car carried magnet 14. The shunt may be pivotally or slidably mounted on the platform 18 to be moved into and out of contact with the permanent magnet 16. When it is moved into engagement with the magnet to shunt the major portion thereof, the figure 20, upon passage adjacent thereto of the magnet 14, will be magnetically drawn off of the platform 18 onto the car, as is depicted in FIGURE 3 and is also depicted in dotted lines in FlGURE 2. The figure will then remain on the car until the shunt 22. is moved out of engagement with the magnet 16, whereupon the figure, when it and the car again pass adjacent the platform, will be drawn off the car onto the platform. Thus, at the will of the operator, the figure of a brakeman may be made to jump automatically from the platform onto the car and from the car onto the platform whether the car is stationary or in motion.

It is to be appreciated, of course, that the Platform is disposed closely adjacent the track in the manner depicted in FIGURE 4, the actual spacing in practice being dependent upon the size and weight of the figure, the strength of the magnets, etc. Generally, the spacing is preferably such that when the figure is on the car the outer edge of its base will substantially align with the vertical center line of the magnet 16. The reason for this is, and it is one of the important features of my invention, that the directional influences of the two magnet fields are angularly related to one another, preferably at right angles, i.e., that the directional influence of the magnet 14 is primarily horizontal and that that of the magnet 16 is primarily vertical in the described embodiment of the device, so that the two influences do not buck or directly oppose one another. Thus, neither is required to neutralize the effect of the other. Consequently, the magnet 14 attracts essentially the upright permeable portion 24 and the magnet 16 attracts essentially the base 26, and the arrangement of the elements is such as to insure the cooperable relationship.

Since the magnets do not oppose one another, both may be of the same strength, in which case the base 26 of the figure by virtue of increased mass, area or permeability relative to the upright slug 24, is so designed as to afford greater magnetic attraction between it and the magnet 16 than there is between the magnet 14 and the figure. Similarly, the magnet 16 might be weaker or stronger than the magnet 14 as desired. Alternatively, the figure might comprise a magnet wherein the base i of a polarity oppo site the polarity of the upper end of the magnet 16 and wherein the component 14 is either, a weak magnet of polarity reversed from that of the figure or is simply a permeable plate to which the magnetized figure would attract itself when the magnetic infiuence of the magnet 16 was diminished. For that matter, the figure could be magnetized, the component 14 could be a permeable member, and the platform 18 could embody a permeable element 16 movable relative to the upper end of the platform for varying the attraction of the figure for the platform. Irrespective of the form adopted, the accessory would, as initially described, embody essentially the three magnetic components 14, 16 and 2t) and means 22 associated with the component 16 for controlling the magnetic influence of the component 16 to accommodate selective attraction of the figure to the car and the platform, whereby the figure may automatically jump from one to the other and back again.

In the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2, the control.- ling element of the accessory is preferably a pivotally mounted lever or strap for shunting the magnet 16. A second form of control is depicted in FIGURE '5 wherein the platform comprises a small stand 18a and includes therein a horizontal guide track 30 for slidable reception of a permanent magnet 16a having a handle 22a whereby the magnet may he slid ,rearwardly away from the plat-,

form to decrease its influence on the figures. To prevent E3 movement of the figure with the magnet, a stop 32 is preferably provided at the rearward edge of the upper surface of the platform, i.e., the edge of the platform facing in the direction in which the magnet is moved.

A further form of control is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 wherein the platform 18b is provided with a depression into which a permeable slug 34 is inserted, the slug comprising the support for the toy figure. Cooperating with the slug is a permanent magnet 16b which is carried by an operating mechanism indicated generally at 225. In particular, the permanent magnet is pivotally mounted below the upper surface of the platform on the forked end of a lever 36. The lever 36 is pivotally mounted at one end on the platform and is provided intermediate its ends with an operating stem 38 projecting upwardly through the platform and terminating at its upper end in a push button 4t) adapted to be depressed by the finger of the operator to dispose the magnet in the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9, wherein the magnet 16b exerts only a slight influence on the toy FIG- URE 202). When the operator releases the button 40, the magnet 16b attracts itself to the slug 34 to assume the position shown in dotted lines, wherein the magnet is disposed to exert controlling influence over the toy figure. As a modification of this embodiment of the invention, the permanent magnet 16b could be inserted in the depression in the platform and the member 34 could be carried by the operating mechanism 22b to serve as a keeper or shunt for the magnet to diminish the influence of the magnet when the keeper was in engagement with the same. Also, in this embodiment of the invention, I have shown a toy FIGURE b of different exterior design than that depicted in FIGURES 1 to 4. It is to be appreciated, of course, that the toy figure may take substantially any configuration desired.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, I have shown another embodiment of my invention very similar to that depicted in FIGURE 1 except that the platform carried magnet is an electromagnet 160. In this structure, the electro-magnet 160 is mounted within or comprises the platform 18c and includes a footing 28c for appropriately positioning the magnet adjacent the track 10c. The control instrumentality for the magnet 16c comprises an electric switch 220 disposed in the current supply line for the magnet, the switch being of any simple and economical type. Operation of this embodiment of the invention is believed apparent from the foregoing description.

As a safety factor in the FIGURE 6 embodiment of the invention, to prevent overheating of the coil of the electro-magnet, burning out of the coil and the possibility of fire, I prefer to include safety switch means. In FIG- URES 6 and 7, the safety switch means employed comprises track and car carried current supply and contact means for accommodating energization of the electromagnet only when the car is adjacent the platform. In particular, one section of the track 10c includes the customary rails for carrying current to the train engine and a third-rail 50 which is normally de-energized. The supply lines for the electro-magnet are connected to one of the energized rails and to the rail 50. For purposes of closing the circuit, a contact shoe 52 is glued or otherwise secured to the bottom of the car to engage the thirdrail 50 and the other one of the energized rails when the car is passing over the particular section of the track. Thus, the electro-magnet can be energized only during the interval that the car 12 is on the section of track having the third-rail 50.

As an alternative to the above described arrangement, the eiectro-magnet 160 may be connected directly to the train transformer and may include therein a self-contained safety switch. In particular, as depicted in FIGURE 8, a oi-metallic safety switch 54 may be included within the electro-magnet structure, the switch being located adjacent the coil and being responsive to the heat thereof to break the circuit at its contacts 56 in the eventof overheating of the coil,

From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the present invention provides a highly simplified jumping brakeman accessory for model railroads and the like. The components are few in number and each of a simple nature. In all embodiments, the directional influences of the two magnetic fields are angularly related, preferably at right angles, whereby neither opposes the other. Thus, the components may conveniently be relatively small and inexpensive. Accordingly, all of the objects and advantages of this invention have been shown herein to be attained in a convenient, expeditious and economical manner.

While I have shown and described what I regard to be preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like consisting, in combination with a model railroad car and a stationary platform disposed adjacent one side of the car, essentially of only three magnetic components, a first component mounted on the car adjacent said one side thereof for establishing a first magnetic field of reference field strength outwardly of said one side of the car, a second component mounted on said platform at an elevation lower than said first component for establishing a second magnetic field extending upwardly from said platform at substantially right angles to said first magnetic field, and a third component comprising a toy figure having a base for magnetic attraction by said second magnetic field and an upright portion for magnetic attraction by said first magnetic field, and control means coupled to said second component for controlling the field strength of said second magnetic field and correspondingly controlling the magnetic attraction of said second component on the base of said third component for increasing and decreasing the strength of said second magnetic field to values greater and less than said reference field strength of said first component which attracts the upright portion of said third component thereby to accommodate selective magnetic attraction of said third component to said first and second components.

2. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like consisting, in combination with a model railroad car and a stationary platform disposed adjacent one side of the car, essentially of only three magnetic components, a first component mounted on the car adjacent said one side thereof for establishing a first magnetic field of reference field strength outwardly of said one side of the car, a second component mounted on said platform for establishing a second magnetic field extending upwardly from said platform at substantially right angles to said first magnetic field, and a third component comprising a toy figure selectively attractable magnetically to said first and second components, said second component comprising an electro-magnet, said electro-magnet when energized having greater magnetic attraction for said third component than does said first component and when de-energized having less magnetic attraction for said third component than does said first component, and means coupled to said electro-magnet for selectively energizing and de-energizing same thereby to cause selective magnetic attraction of said third component to said first and second components.

3. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like consisting, in combination with a model railroad car movable on a track and a stationary platform disposed adjacent the track at one side of the car, essentially of only three magnetic components, a first component mounted on the car adjacent said one side thereof for establishing a first magnetic field of reference field strength outwardly of said one side of the car, a second component mounted on said platform for establishing a second magnetic field extending upwardly from said platform at substanially right angles to said first magnetic field, and a third component comprising a toy figure selectively attractable magnetically to said first and second components, said second component comprising an electro-rnagnet, said electro-magnet when energized having greater magnetic attraction for said third component than does said first component and when deenergized having less magnetic attraction for said third component than does said first component, means coupled to said electro-rnagnet for selectively energizing and de-energizing same thereby to cause selective magnetic attraction of said third component to said first and second components, and safety switch means including cooperable contact means on the car and the portion of the track adjacent the platform for accommodating energization of said electromagnet only when the car is adjacent the platform.

4. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like comprising, in combination with a model railroad car, a toy figure having a permeable base and a permeable upright portion, a permanent magnet mounted on the car for producing a first magnetic field extending along a reference axis outwardly of one side of the car, said permanent magnet establishing a magnetic attraction of given value with said upright portion of the toy figure to carry the toy figure on said one side of the car, a second magnet disposed adjacent the said one side of the car at an elevation lower than said permanent magnet for producing a second magnetic field adjacent its upper end extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to said reference axis said second magnet establishing a magnetic attraction with said base of the toy figure to hold the figure adjacent the upper end of said second magnet, and control means coupled to said second magnet for adjusting the value of the magnetic attraction of said second magnet on said base to values greater and less than said given value of the magnetic attraction of saidpermanent magnet on said upright portion thereby to accommodate selective magnetic attraction of said figure to said permanent magnet and said second magnet.

5. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like consisting, in combination with a model railroad car, essentially of a' first permanent magnet mounted on the car for producing a magnetic field of given field strength extending outwardly of one side of the car along a reference axis, a second permanent magnet disposed adjacent the said one side of the car for producing a magnetic field adjacent thereto along an axis substantially perpendicular to said reference axis, a toy figure having permeable portions cooperable with said magnets, said second magnet having a field strength. greater than said given field strength and thus having a greater magnetic attraction for said figure than does said first magnet, shunting means mounted for movement relative to said second magnet to effectively reduce the field strength thereof to a value less than said given field strength of said first magnet, and means coupled to said shunting means for effecting relative movement of said second magnet and said shunting means to engage and separate the same and thereby accommodate selective atraction of said figure to said first and second magnets.

6. An animated accessory for model railroads and the like consisting, in combination with a model railroad car, essentially of a first permanent magnet mounted on the car for producing a first magnetic field outwardly of one side of the car along a reference axis, a stationary platform disposed adjacent the said one side of the car, a second permanent magnet movably mounted on said platform for producing a magnetic field adjacent thereto along'an axis substantially perpendicular to said reference axis, a toy figure having permeable portions cooperable with said magnets, said second magnet having greater magnetic attraction for said figure than does said first magnet whereby said figure is normally retained on said platform, and control means coupled to said second magnet for moving same away from said platform and thus diminishing the magnetic attraction of said second magnet for said figure to a value less than the value of the magnetic attraction for said figure of said first magnet.

7. For use with a model railroad including a track and at least one railroad car having a plurality of sides, an animated accessory comprising: a toy figure having first and second permeable portions; car-side means mounted on said car for establishing a first magnetic field extending outwardly of one side of said car along a reference axis to exert magnetic attraction of a reference level on said first permeable portion of said figure; track-side means disposed adjacent said one side of said car for establishing a second magnetic field adjacent thereto extending along an axis perpendicular to said reference axis to exert magnetic attraction alternatively of a first level less than said reference level and of a second level greater than said reference level on said second permeable portion of said figure; and control means coupled to said track-side means for selectively adjusting the magnetic attraction of said second magnetic field at an alternative one of said first and second levels, whereby said figure is alternatively drawn toward said car-side means and toward said trackside means.

8. In a model railroad layout including a model railroad car, a stationary platform positioned adjacent one side of the car, and a source of power, an animated accessory, comprising: a toy figure having an upright portion including magnetic material and a base portion including magnetic material; a permanent magnet mounted in said railroad car for establishing a first magnetic field, extending along a reference axis, having a magnetic attraction of given value for said upright portion of the toy figure; an electro-magnet mounted in said platform for establishing a'second magnetic field extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to said reference axis, having a magnetic attraction for said base portion of the toy figure of a value exceeding said given value; and switch means, connected between said electro-magnet and said source of power, for selectively energizing said electromagnet to establish said second magnetic field and overcome the magnetic attraction of given value established by said permanent magnet, thereby to attract said toy figure alternatively to said car and to said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

